OU.PROVOST.GEOMAT

Summary Information

Repository
Oakland University Archives and Special Collections
Title
Papers of George T. Matthews
ID
OU.PROVOST.GEOMAT
Date [inclusive]
1959-1993
Extent
3.5 Linear feet
Language
English

Preferred Citation

Item, folder title, box no., Papers of George T. Matthews, Oakland University Archives.

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Biographical note

A graduate of Columbia University, George Matthews was teaching history there when he was recruited to be Associate Professor at the new Michigan State University Oakland (the future Oakland University) in 1959. Matthews was already an established scholar specializing in French history. He became Professor the following year, chair of the history department in 1961 and associate dean in 1962. He was appointed Dean of the new College of Arts and Sciences in 1965 and served until 1972, when he was named vice provost. During his tenure Matthews helped establish the Center for Health Sciences, the Bachelor of General Studies degree and many other programs. When President O’Dowd resigned in 1979, Matthew was appointed interim president. He returned to the classroom in 1982 as professor of history. In 1983, he served as chair of the Silver Anniversary Planning Committee. After the celebration, in 1985 he retired and embarked on a project to write a history of Oakland University. For more information, see the George Matthews oral history: https://our.oakland.edu/handle/10323/949

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Scope and Contents note

The Papers of George T. Matthews contain documents created or received by Matthews through his career at Oakland University. The Personal Files contain correspondence, clippings and university documents related to his hiring in 1959, and his faculty and administrative positions at the university. The History Department files consist of a small selection of syllabi and course materials. The Memos and Correspondence, Strategic Planning and other Administrative Files span Matthews’ entire career and therefore the positions he held, including his years as vice-provost when he led a university-wide study initiated by President O’Dowd in 1973-1974. The President’s study commission produced a set of recommendations concerning the organizational development of OU at the undergraduate level. The recommendations were adopted by the president’s executive group at a meeting at the St Clair Inn (hence the name “St Clair Inn recommendations” often used to refer to the results of the study) . This was an echo to the first “St Clair Inn meeting” which had been called 9 years earlier by then Chancellor Varner to plan the development of the University. The Events Files gather materials documenting conferences and other programs Matthews attended. The Research and Reading Files contain a few scholarly articles and other materials assembled by Matthews for his research and administrative work. The Oakland University History Project contains Matthews’ notes and background material he gathered for a book-length history of Oakland University, which he set out to write after his retirement. Although the book was never completed, his files contain interesting university documents from the 1958-1959 founding period. His unfinished manuscript can be found in another collection, the Early History Collection.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Oakland University Archives and Special Collections

Kresge Library
100 Library Drive
Rochester, MI, 48309

Access and Use

The papers of George T. Matthews are open for research except for certain records restricted by statute or university policy in the Administrative Files series.

Copyright

Copyright held by Oakland University except for some manuscripts by George Matthews.

Processing

Processed by Dominique Daniel, June 2017.

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Collection Inventory

Personal files 
Box

Curriculum vitae 

 1

Columbia University Council - Research grant 1954-1958 

 1

Appointment papers - MSUO 1959 

 1

TIAA 1959 

 1

Faculty employment info. 

 1

Royal General Farms account 1960 

 1

MSUO History department - syllabi 1961 

 1

History syllabi & sample exams 1959-1971 

 1

Misc. corresp. 

 1

Speeches 

 1

Interim President - corresp. 1979-1981 

 1

Expense acct. 1981 

 1

G. Matthews - retirement 1985 

 1

"Just Us" - script 

 1

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History Department files 
Box

American Universities Field Staff - corresp. 1959-1960 

 1

Travel vouchers 1960 

 1

Society for French Historical Studies 

 1

Personal corresp. 1955-1961   2 folders.

 1

Lamm, Lawrence - corresp. 1960 

 1

Pontiac High School - Social Studies program 

 1

Foreign Studies Conference - corresp. 1960 

 1

Foreign Studies Program - corresp. 1960 

 1

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Memos and Correspondence 1960-1981   11 folders.

 Box
1

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Strategic Planning 
Box

Study committees est. - Rec. IV,V,VI 1973 

 1

Recommendations concerning organizational development of OU at undergraduate level - memos 1973 

 1

Recommendations I-VI - memos,reports 1973 

 1

St. Clair Inn commission recommendations 1974   6 folders

 1

Recommendation VI - memos, misc. materials 1973-1974 

 1

Recommendation VI - report 1974 

 1

Planning documents - 1978 

 1

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Events files 
Box

University in Crisis Conference - 10th Anniv. 1969-1970 

 2

OSHA Symposium June 3-4, 1976 

 2

Phi Beta Kappa - annual meeting 1976 

 2

Public Service Seminar - proceedings Oct. 8-9, 1984 

 2

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Research and Reading files 
Box

Higher Education 

 2

Black Theatre 

 2

History 

 2

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OU History Project 

 Box
2
Box

Genesis - 1993 

 2

Draft notes 

 2

Writings 

 2

MSUOU documents and corresp. 

 2

George Karas - materials received 

 2

MSUOU Opening - Pontiac Press 1959 

 2

Newsclippings 1959 

 2

Meadow Brook Seminars 1958 

 2

Curriculum materials 

 2

Misc. documents 

 2

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Administrative files 
Box

Dodge Wilson College proposal 1978 

 2

School of Nursing - Capitation grant 1973-1974 

 2

Changes in Graduation requirements 1972 

 2

Academy of Dramatic Art 1974-1976 

 2

Allport College 1974-1975 

 2

Provost Group Meetings - minutes, corresp. 1973-1975 

 2

Center for General and Career Studies 1975-1976 

 2

Billie Demont - memos 1975-1976 

 2

Senate Steering Committee - memos, misc. 1978-1980 

 2

Medical School Proposal 1979-1980 

 2

Academic Affairs Reorganization 1981 

 2

Commission on the Center for Health Sciences 1983 

 2

Twenty-fifth Anniversary materials 1984 

 2

Commission on University Excellence - Preliminary report May 1984 

 2

Misc. reports - enrollment, faculty, alumni 19801984 

 2

Restricted 

Access and Use

These folders contain confidential information. Closed for 75 years from date of creation or until death of subjects.
Box

Student files 1965-1976 

 3

Student Assignments - graded 1966 

 3

Personnel 1976-1983 

 3

Reference letters - written by G. Matthews 1980-1981 

 3

Dean of Nursing - Search & Selection 1974   2 folders.

 3

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Audiovisual material 

 Box
4
Box

Microcassettes Oct. 9 & 12, 1993   2 tapes

Scope and Contents note

Microcassettes in separate envelopes. Notations on envelopes: Alumni 1963, 1967, 1983 - John Dodge House - Oct. 9, 1993. Second envelope: Lowell Eklund - Meadow Brook Hall - Oct. 12, 1993.

 3

Reel to reel tapes - Foreign studies conference April 2-3, 1960   3 reels.

Scope and contents note

Included are three yellow papers with handwritten notes.

 3

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